Strip uncoiler cradle



July 5, 1938.

A. J. WARDLE STRIP UNCOILER CRADLE FiledNov. 28. 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet '1l-llll If INVENTOR. AMBROSE WARDLE f ATTORNEY.

July 5, 1938.

- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I'll lRh 1 1 l I I I 1 l l I I 1 I I I I l 1 v I lI I x x I l I- U W 1- 2 8 3 t Q a on .2 2 Q F I. N8 m R R 2 Q Q a m L S3 mm .8 m a 2 mu o fl OWN h 1 \w a.

" ATTORNEY."

July 5, 1938. v A. J. WARDLE 2,122,674

STRIP UNCOILER CRADLE File d Nov. 28. 1936 4'Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.AMBROSE I WARDLE ATTORNEY.

July 5, 1938. Q J WARDLE 2,122,674

STRIP UNCOILER CRADLE 7 Filed Nov. 28. 1936 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR;AMBROSE I WARD LE BY 5 A ATTOR EY.

Patented July s, less un -rep "STATES PATENT OFFICE-- STRIP UNCOILEI.CIADLI Ambrose J. Wardle, Youngstown. Ohio, alsignor I McKay town, hlo,a moi Ohio 00mm. loans:-

' 7 Application November as, use. Serial No. mass "Claim.

as it issues from the rolling mill or other processing' equipment to aidin handling and shipping the same. Before with a thin film of oilrosion, thus preservin the smooth surfaceat tained by modernmanufacturing'methods. Fab:

their plants with apparatus jtc the as received in coil form and{i;sonie; plants have installations for the automati production of pressedsteel. p I device for intermittently feeding to the press or stampingmachinec -isl-lypositiqned between the uncoiler and the press orstampingmachine. fro-insure a high rate of production the uncoiler mustnecessarily deliver an unfailing as supply of uniform strip. The rate ofdelivery being controlled in accordance with the demands of the feedingmechanism.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a stripuncoiler cradle on which the coil may be easily placed and held inposition by gravity and in which novel guide means is employed whichguide means is'operative to perform its function without danger ofinjury to the side edges of the strip being uncoiled. v Another objectof the invention is to provide improved means to support and rotate thecoil to aid in keeping the coil on the cradle and to insure sumcientrotation of the coil that it may deliver an adequate supply of strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means tocontrol the delivery of strip fromthe coil in accordance with the demandof feeding or other mechanisms, the control means being containedentirely in the uncoiling machine whereby the uncoiling machine may beused in conjunction with feeding mechanisms'without modification thereofand without the need of any electrical or mechanical connection betweenthe uncoiler and the feeding device except the metal strip itself. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the drawings and the following detailed descriptionwherein selected embodiments of the invention are disclosed. I

coiled. the strip is coated prevent premature core ricators and otherusers 'offmetalistrip pmvide (c1. sis-ray In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a metal strip ungiler constructed inaccordance with my inven- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of theuncoiler taken along the line 2-4 of Figure 4, looking in the directionof the arrows;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a coil supporting roll; I

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the uncoiler; Figure 5 is across-sectional view taken along y the line H of Figure 1, showing thecoil in position and diagrammatically illustrating the "controllingcircuitr Figure 6 ha partial plan view of the coil sup- -portingcradles; and

' --.Figure"l is an elevation of a modified form of apparatus embodyingmy invention. I Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustratedin Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, the Y numeral ll designates the hollowsupporting base for the,app'aratus which is preferably constructed bywelding together suitably formed plates and sections. One end of thebase is provided with a raised portion II to form a raised support fora'slidable guide carrier l2. Suitably secured to the base II at itsother end is a pedestal I! to form a raised support for another guidecarrier II. The raised portion ll of the base Ill and the pedestal IIalso form the end supports for a. cradle assembly adapted to receive androtatably support a coil ll.

The cradle assembly is supported by a pair of spaced parallel shafts IIhaving their ends journaled in the side walls of the base portion ii andthe pedestal ll. As shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6, a cradle ilconsisting of a rigid rectangular frame is rotatably supported on eachof the shafts it which pass through the centers of the end members ll ofthe cradles l1. If desired, suitable anti-friction bearings may beprovided between the shafts I. and end members It to eliminate thetendency of the rotation of the shafts to rotate the cradles and toprevent the cradles from moving longitudinally along the shafts. Each ofthe cradles is provided with a pair of shafts l9 parallel to and equallyspaced from the shaft I6 and having their ends rotatably supported inthe end members l8. A roll 20 is securely keyed to each of the shafts ISin lateral alignment with each other to form spaced supports forthe-coil ll.

A spur gear ii is keyed to the shaft it within the cradle frame lladjacent to the end member l8 and meshes with gears 22 keyed to the rollfour rolls III will be in constant engagement with k the outer surfaceof the coil l4 regardless of its diameter. I have found: this feature tobe of distinct advantage as it materially reduces the danger of the coilbeing pulled off the uncoiling machine by the action of the pinch rolls30, Figure 5, or other feeding mechanism with which the uncoiler may beused.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3,. the coil supporting rolls 2i!consist of a metallic hub 24 tired with a thick layer of rubber 25intimately bonded with the metal of the hub. Preferably the rubber 25 isof a synthetic composition of the type resistant to the normaldeleterious action of hydrocarbon compounds. This is a desirable featuresince the oil coating of the strip would quickly deteriorate naturalrubber. if used on the. rolls.

Theuse of rubber on the rolls enhances the friction between the coil andthe rolls and this togetherwith the cradles arrangement whereby all fourrolls are in constant engagement with the 0011 results in the coil beingpositively rotated upon rotation of the rolls. The final result is thatan adequate supply of strip is uncoiled and the tendency of the feedingmechanism with which the uncoiler may be associated to pull the coilfrom the machineis obviated.

Motor 3| transmitting through the flexible coupling 34 and variablespeed transmission 32, all housed within the base I0, is utilized todrive the shafts l6 and rolls 20. The speed of rotation of the elementsis controlled by operation of the handwheel 33. I A transverselyextending shaft 35 journaled within the pedestal I3 is coupled. with theoutput shaft of the variable speed transmission 32 by the chain 36 anddrives both the shafts 16 through Worms fl and worm gears 38 housedwithin the pedestal.

Slidably mounted in a longitudinally extending bore 4| in the upper endof the pedestal II is the guide carrier l5 rotatably supporting at its.inner end a rotary guide generally indicated at 4| having a hub 42mounted on the end of the carrier by the bearing assembly 43', acircular plane disk 44 and braces 45 welded to the hub and disk. Thecarrier I5 is longitudinally adjustable by a toothed rack 46 securedthereto and meshing with a spur gear 41 carried by a transverse shaft 48provided at its outer end with a handwheel 49.

, Rotation of the handwheel results in longitudinal movement of thecarrier l5 and operates to bring the rotary guide 4| in contact with theadjacent side edge of the coil. Bolts I0 and iii may be employed to lock.the guide in selected position.

Another rotary guide generally indicated at is employed to engage theother side edge of the coil and consists of a circular plane disk 6|, abackup plate 62, hub 63 and braces 64 welded to the hub and backupplate. Bolts or rivets 65 'movement of the periphery of the ,ccil.

tudinally therein by a screw Ill threadedly engaged with anaperture inlug 'll depending from the carrier. The adjusting screw 10 is restrainedfrom longitudinal movement by the collars 12 secured to the screw. BoltsI! lock the guide carrier in selected position.

The rotary guides 4| and keep the strip in position during the uncoilingthereof and rotate with the coil. The guides are freely mounted andoperate in such a manner that should a portion of an edge of the stripbe forced into tight engagement with the face of the guide, the guidewill be rotated and so will prevent the tearing or deformation of theedge of the strip. As explained above the rotary guides arelongitudinally adjustable with respect to the coil supporting rolls 20and with each other; this in order that the device may accommodate coilsof diflerent widths and that the guides may fit closely against the sideedges of the strip.

To control the rate of delivery of the strip from the coil I employ theswitch I8 mounted adjacent the periphery of the coil and operated by thearm 'l'l to control the operation of the motor 3|. The switch I6 ismounted on the holder 15 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the outerside member of a cradle I'I. As the,cradle ll rotates inwardly uponreduction in diameter of the coil the switch 16 moves toward the centerof the coil and thus tends to follow the inward The switch is operatedby the arm I1. which. is provided at its outer end with a roller toengage the surface of the strip when the strip loops outwardly as atIS-as will occur when the uncoiler is dispensing the strip at a greaterrate than is dethe gear case 9| supports the transverse drive shaft 35,one end of the cradle supporting shafts l6 and houses the worms 31 andthe worm gears 38. Aside from these changes the device is identical withthe structure of Figures 1 to 6.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A coil supporting and rotating assembly for a strip uncoiling devicecomprising a pair of spaced parallel supporting and driving shafts,means to rotatably support the ends of the shafts, a cradlerotatablysupported on each of the shafts, a pair of spaced roll carrying shaftsjournaled in each of said cradles and being in parallel align mentwiththe driving shafts, a coil supporting roll carried by each of saidroll carryingshafts and power transmission means between the drivingshafts .and' each of the roll carrying shafts whereby rotation of thedriving shafts results in rotation of the roll. carrying shafts.

2. A coil supporting and rotating assembly for I a strip uncoilingdevice comprising a pair of spaced parallel supporting and driving.shafts,

means to rotatably support said shafts, a cradle rotatably supported oneach of said shafts, a pair of spaced coil supporting rolls carried byeach cradle and having their axes of-rotation parallel with said shafts,and driving means between the shaft andthe rolls whereby rotation of theshaft results in rotation of the rolls.

3. A metal strip uncoiling device comprising a plurality, of arcuatelydisposed supporting and rotating rolls adapted to support and rotate acoil of metal strip, guide members for saidcoil comprising a pair ofspaced parallel disks positioned above and oneither side of said rolls,said disks being mounted for free rotation on longitudinally alignedbearings extending parallel to the axes of rotation of the rolls, andmeans to rotate said rolls.

4. A metal strip uncoiling device comprising a hollow base member havinga raised portion at one end, a hollow pedestal secured to said basemember at its other end, a pair of spaced parallel shafts having theirends journaled in the 'raised portion of the base and in the pedestal,

a transverse shaft in said pedestal for rotating said parallel shafts, amotor in said base for rotating said transverse shaft, a cradlerotatably supported on each of said parallel shafts, a pair of coilsupporting and rotating rolls Journaled in each cradle for rotation onaxes parallel with the parallel shafts, driving means between theparallel shafts and the rolls whereby the rolls may be caused to berotated, a guide comprising a disk positioned normal to the axes of theparallel shafts and thereabove, means including said pedestal to supportsaid disk for rotation in the plane including the disk, a second guidecomprising a disk spaced from and parallel with the first named disk,and means including said raised portion of the base to support saidsecond mentioned disk for rotation in its plane.

5. A metal strip uncoiling device comprising a base member having araised portion at one end, a hollow pedestal secured to said base memberat its other end, a pair of spaced parallel shafts having their endsjournaled in the raised portion of the base and in the pedestal, atransverse shaft in said pedestal for rotating said parallel shafts,means to rotate said transverse shaft, a cradle rotatably supported oneach of said parallel shafts, a pair of coil supporting and rotatingrolls journaled in each cradle for rotation on axes parallel with theparallel shafts, driving means between the parallel shafts and the rollswhereby the rolls may be caused to be rotated, a guide member comprisinga disk positioned normal to the axes of the parallel shafts andthereabove but to one side of the rolls, and means including said raisedportion to support said disk for rotation in the plane including thedisk. v v

6. A metal strip uncoiling device comprising a plurality of arcuatelydisposed coil supporting rolls, means to rotate said rolls, guidemembers for the coil comprising a pair of spaced parallel diskspositioned above and on either side of said rolls, said disks beingmounted for free rotation on longitudinally aligned bearings extendingparallel to the axes of rotation of the rolls, and means to selectivelyposition the guides along the longitudinal line of their axes ofrotation.

7. A metal strip uncoiling device comprising a plurality of arcuatelydisposed coil supporting rolls, means to rotate said rolls, a rotaryguide member adapted to engage a side edge of the coil comprising a diskpositioned above and to one side of said rolls, said disk being mountedfor free rotation in a plane normal to the axes of retation of therolls, and means to selectively position the guide along thelongitudinal line of its axis of rotation.

'8. A metal strip uncoiling device comprising a plurality of arcuatelydisposed coil supporting rolls, means to rotate said rolls, a rotaryguide member adapted to engage a side edge of the coil comprising .adisk positioned above and to one side of said rolls, said disk beingmounted for free rotation in a plane normal to the axes of rotation ofthe rolls.

, 9. A strip uncoiling device comprising means to rotatably support thecoil, a pair of spaced parallel rotary guide members adapted to engageopposite edges of the coil, each guide member comprising a diskpositioned above and to one side of the coil supporting means, saiddisks being mounted for free rotation in planes parallel with the sideedges of the coil.

10. A strip uncoiling device comprising a base, a pair of spacedparallel shafts mounted on said base in an inclined position, a cradlerotatably carried by each shaft, a pair of spaced coil supporting rollsiournaled in each cradle, driving means between the shafts and the rollswhereby rotation of the shafts results in rotation of the rolls, arotary guide comprising a disk mounted in a plane normal to the axes ofthe shafts and above the lower endsthereof, said disk forming a supportfor the coil and adapted to rotate freely upon rotation of the coil.

11. A strip uncoiling device comprising a base, a plurality of arcuatelydisposed coil supporting rolls arranged'with their axes parallel witheach other but inclined with respect to the horizontal, a rotary guidecomprising a flat disk positioned at the lower end of said rolls andlying in a plane normal to the axes of rotation of the rolls, said diskforming a support for the coil and adapted to rotate freely uponrotation of the coil.

12. A strip uncoiling device comprising a base, a pair of spacedparallel shafts mounted on the base, a cradle rotatably mounted on eachshaft comprising a frame having side members and end members, a pair ofspaced coil supporting rolls iournaled in each cradle and having theiraxes of rotation parallel with the shafts, a switch supported on theouter side member of a cradle and having an operating arm positionedadjacent the periphery of the coil and adapted to be actuated by a loopfrom the coil, and means controlled by said switch to drive the coilsupporting rolls.

13. A strip uncoiling device comprising a base, a pair of cradlespivotally supported on said base, a pair of spaced parallel coilsupporting rolls Journaled in each cradle and having their axes ofrotation parallel with the axes of rotation of the cradles, means torotate said rolls, an arm pivotally mounted on one of said cradlespositioned adjacent the periphery of the coil and adapted to be actuatedby a loop from said coil,

and means actuated by said arm in control of said roll rotating means.

14. A coil supporting and rotating assembly for a strip uncoiling devicecomprising a base, a pair of cradles rotatably supported on said base onspaced parallel axes, a pair of coil supporting roll carrying shaftsrotatabiy mounted on parallel axes on each of said cradles, said lastmentioned axes being parallel with said first mentioned axes,

' a coil supporting and rotating roll keyed to each of said rollcarrying shafts, and means to rotate said roll carrying shafts in allpositions of said cradles.

.15. Structure according to claim 14 including ,a tire on each of saidrolls, said tire being of a synthetic rubber composition to provide'driving friction and to prevent marking of the material being uncoiled.

s and the side edge ot-the mniierisl as is being- 18. A metal stripuncoilin'g device comprising tion in a plane includin'gihe disk andparallel t0 means to rotatably support a coil c-i strip; a guide theside surface of the coil, and means to move member for said rotatingcoil comprising a. rotary said disk longitudinally with respect to saidcoil disk sdapfied tbengage the side edge of the coil supporting means.

AMBROSEJ. WARDLE; 5

uncoiled -ssid disk- Inoiintedfbr tree rota-;

